A MAJOR flood which brought chaos to Barnoldswick 81 years ago has been recalled by a resident for an exhibition.

The town was hit by the devastating flood in July 1932 following a storm.

Water gushed into homes, shops and streets and the force of the water even demolished a wall.

Former weaver Hilda Elsworth spent 44 years working at Bancroft Mill in the town.

Now aged 90, she vividly remembers the day the floods swept through the town when she was a schoolgirl. And her memories have been used as part of a presentation by Barnoldswick History Society at the steam mill.

Hilda said: “I can remember being in school when the sky went very dark but at 4pm we were all let out to go home.

“The teachers should have seen that we weren’t able to get home, but they did not and it was 7.30pm when I finally arrived home.

“On my way up by the main gates of Letcliffe Park I met two ladies who asked me where I was going, and having told them, they said that I couldn’t get down there.

“By this time I must have been getting quite upset because I could see the roof of my home.

The ladies were very kind and said that they would take me down to the Clough Mill and they would see that I got through to the bottom of Wapping (now called Westgate).

“When we got to the Greyhound Inn, I remembered that I had an aunt who lived at Cobden Street so I said that I would go there.

“There were no telephones in those days so they were not able to let my parents know where I was.

“Well, I went there and had my tea and at 7pm, who should come walking up the back yard but my dad.

“What a relief for him and myself. My mother would also be relieved later when she saw us.

“It was lucky that no-one lost their life that day, as it was July and had been such a nice day, no-one would have expected it to happen.”